The document summarizes soil water potential and its components. Soil water potential (ΨT) is equal to the sum of gravimetric potential (Ψz), osmotic potential (Ψs), matric potential (Ψm), and pressure potential (Ψp). Gravimetric potential depends on gravity and soil moisture content. Osmotic potential is due to dissolved salts. Matric potential restricts water movement through pore spaces. Pressure potential is positive in saturated soil. Together these determine if water will move within the soil from high to low water potential. The water content soils can hold is illustrated on a log scale, with sandy soil holding the least and clay the most at given potential values.
1. ΨT = Ψz+Ψs+Ψm+Ψp
WhereΨp = total potential
Ψz = gravimetric potential
Ψs = solute or osmotic potential
Ψm = matric adsorption force
Ψp = pressure due to external forces.
Soil water potential
2. • Higher moisture above the level of
water table in soil, gravity exerts a
positive pulling force water move
downward.
• When higher in moisture content
below soil profile and drier above
profile, this would be a negative value,
the water is going to be pulled up into
a drier soil layer above.
z
Gravimetric potential
3. Osmotic potential
• Measurement of ions (dissolved salt)
which exert positive attraction for
water
• Negative value
• Indirect measurement of attraction
that ions have in soil water potential
equation.
• As soil salt content increases, more
free ions available, larger negative
number
s
4. Matric potential
• Taking energy away from soil water
• Force restricting the movement of
water through the pore spaces
• In any soil less than saturation, the soil
will be negative number
• Potential energy of water is influenced
by the matrix potential and will be
negative energy.
• Dry soil- larger negative number
m
5. Pressure potential
•The pressure potential will be
positive in a saturated soil
•In unsaturated soils, the pressure
potential is, usually, considered
zerop
6. ΨT = Ψz+Ψs+Ψm+Ψp
• The total soil water potential equation will give us a value when we add up
all of the effects of the gravitation, matrix and osmotic
• It will give us a value which will be a negative number at anything less than
saturation.
• Water will move in soil profile from an area of high content to an area of
lower content
•ΨT Can be measured in kPa, bars or atmospheres
7. ΨT = Ψz+Ψs+Ψm+Ψp
• Smaller negative number, the higher the water content in the soil pores
• The larger the negative number, the lower content will be in the soil pores
Water will moves from
area of higher to lower
concentration
Water moves from area of a lower
negative value forΨT towards to an
area of a higher negative value forΨT.
Or
8. Soil water potential log scale • The sandy soil holding
considerably less water than the
loam soil which holding
correspondingly less amount of
total water than the clay (fine
textured soil)
• In all case as soil water potential
increases or becomes a larger
negative number the soil will end
up losing water regardless of
whether it’s medium or fine
texture soil
• The best thing to use this graphic
to illustrate is what type of soil
moisture is remaining at a given
soil water potential value.
9. At -0.1 bars/atmospheres to -1 bars/atmospheres:
• The sandy soil is not
holding very much water
• The loam soil is holding an
intermediate amount
• The finer clay texture soil
is holding the most water
at that soil water potential
• -1 bars/atmospheres is not
a large negative number,
it is high value and has a
lot of usable water in the
soil profile
10. At -10 bars/atmospheres
• The water deficiency point for plants
is usually around -10
bars/atmospheres and it is vary from
one plant to another
• It is fairly representative value that
most of crop plants at least can take
water out of soil profile without
significantly damaging their yield
potential
• Everything’s going to this value it’s a
combination of gravitational, matric
and osmotic potentials
11. Conclusion of suitable value of
soil water potential for plants
• For all the practical purposes, the level of water being held between -0.1 to -10
bars/atmospheres is really usable water that being stored in the soil plant.
• At -10 to -100 bars/atmospheres is very little water left in the soil profile. Rarely
plants are able survive and utilize water from soils down to this level.